Archeologists unearth massive statue dating from Roman times near British motorway

Road today, sacred site yesterday. Archaeological discoveries have a way of reminding us that a place, before becoming what it is today, could have been quite the opposite. And this latest find only confirms this. Dispatched by construction workers working on a building site, archaeologists were pleasantly surprised to unearth a Roman-era statue of King Triton. A discovery as rare as it is precious.

When the past meets the present

The unlikely discovery took place in Kent, England, on the A2 between London and the port of Dover. Archaeologists from the Canterbury Archaeological Trust (CAT) were pleasantly surprised to unearth a Roman-era statue of King Triton on what was to become a housing development. Found in an excellent state of preservation, it is thought to date back some 1700 years!

This is not the only relic of the past found on the site. The researchers also unearthed the remains of a mausoleum and a Roman coin dating from 320 to 330 AD. It's a situation they can scarcely believe, and one that far exceeded their expectations when they began their search. Robert Masefield, a leading figure in the world of archaeology in England, said :

We expected to discover remains of a Roman past, but these finds, particularly the statue of Triton, have far exceeded our expectations.

The experts will now attempt to place these discoveries in their historical context. They have their work cut out for them.

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Who was King Triton?

The stone statue, which was the object of much attention, was easily retrieved from the surface, only 40 cm below the surface. Measuring 70 cm x 70 cm, it weighs around sixty kilos. It depicts the demigod Triton, son of Neptune, king of the seas in Roman mythology. A sea creature with the torso of a man and the tail of a fish, depicted riding a sea monster. He was described as being able to calm the ardors of the sea, simply by blowing into a conch shell.

Excavations will continue, putting the real estate project on hold. Indeed, archaeologists suspect that the area may harbour other treasures of this type, the site having almost certainly been used as a burial ground. This is the first time in England that such finds have been made, dating back to Roman times. The past is speaking, and researchers intend to listen.

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This article has been translated from Gentside FR.

Source used:

Canterbury Archeological Trust